I did listening experiments and found DSD256 to sound best of the formats my Bryston BDA3 will play. Through JRiver MC28, external HD, Win11 Intel CoreI5 HP Compact Desktop, the BDA3 plays all DSD formats it is capable in Native without DoP conversion. I connect through Transparent Premium USB.
As for buying, I have a subscription to NativeDSD plus. For the annual fee, Download prices are discounted and will include lower rate DSD versions. This allows me to download the DSD128 versions for my PS Audio NuWave DAC in the bedroom.
I am seeking the best sounding digital music (regarding format and recording) to download these days. To my ears the modern well recorded DSD recordings sound best. I haven’t seen better from other Download retailers. So, that would be a “yes” to interest in DSD256.
I am definitely interested in DSD256 especially those that are recorded at the sander bitrate. I have quite a few albums so far. I download them from various services (NativeDSD, Channel Classics, Eudora, NativeDSD etc) and play them through a Lumin T2 over Roon.
I like “Mini Brazilian Beasts” so much even in 24 bit or DSD64 that I decided to get the DSD256 version now that it’s available and Wow, DSD256 shows off this recording with so much more air and presence! Now with the new Blue Sky update fully broken in, better recordings took another step up in SQ. The differences are so stark, I just had to say something.
For the DirectStream mk1 the literature says DSD 256 is playable via i2s + Sunlight FW. Does this mean that it is only via Sunlight or that it is Sunlight and later updates?
I love these audiophile journey posts because I sold my 3000 LP collection and analogue setup and regretted it… until I returned to my Audiophile (psycho)path via an Innuos streamer+PS Audio DAC that sounds almost as good as my old setup at half the cost (unadjusted $£€¥) because of good insights from forum people - mahalos for that post!
